Plenty Of Effort But Nil Return For
Jets

It was once again a case of pondering what might have been, after the Newtown Jets went down 22-20 to the Western Suburbs Magpies at Campbelltown Stadium on Friday evening. The Jets had their chances to win this game, and can at least prepare for their upcoming sequence of five consecutive home games at Henson Park with renewed confidence.

Half-back Brad Westaway bagged the Jets first try after fifteen minutes, but then a glut of possession and a fortuitous string of penalties gave the Magpies a great platform to grab control of the game. Wests had possession for seven consecutive sets, in which time they piled on three tries in seven minutes to lead 16-6. The crafty Westaway kept the Jets in touch with a fifty-five metre intercept try five minutes before half time.

Newtown had to withstand some concerted Magpie pressure early in the second half, and then narrowed the margin to trail 16-14 through a strong try to second rower Robbie Simpson. The Jets had marginally the better of play in the final quarter of the match, but their failure to turn potential try-scoring opportunities into points cost them dearly in the end. Best for the Jets were Tere Glassie, Luke Wardle, Dave Lambert, Garth Wood, John Wilson and Brad Westaway.

Newtown's youthful Metro Cup squad nearly brought off an upset against the Sydney Bulls at Lidcombe Oval on Saturday evening, going down by 22-18. Critical errors and inexperience proved the undoing of the Jets, in what was a really gutsy performance from a patched-up and rearranged team.

The Jets are back at home at Henson Park this Saturday, the 8th of June. In the Metro Cup curtain-raiser, Newtown meet Kellyville at 1.15 pm, and in the main First Division fixture kicking off at 3.00 pm, Newtown take on the Canberra Raiders. You can keep up with all the Jets news and check all the upcoming match details on 1300 36 36 90.